Printer acting as host for device printers/scanners

ABSTRACT

A method of pairing a handheld printer/scanner device with a barcode printer acting as the host is disclosed. The pairing will further enhance the functionality of the host barcode printer. Specifically, the pairing process is initiated when a printer process that requires a handheld printer/scanner device is initiated. The method enables a handheld printer/scanner device to print to a host barcode printer, and also enables the host barcode printer to receive a barcode scan of the case label of received food items and retain information from the barcode scan for future printing of food freshness labels.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to food freshness barcodeprinters or smart printers acting as a host to a handheldprinter/scanner device. More particularly, the present disclosurerelates to a process of pairing a handheld printer/scanner device with abarcode printer acting as the host that will enhance the functionalityof the host printer.

A barcode printer is a computer peripheral for printing barcode labelsor tags that can be attached to, or printed directly on, physicalobjects. Barcode printers are commonly used to label cartons beforeshipment, or to label retail items with UPCs or EANs. The most commonbarcode printers employ one of two different printing technologies.Direct thermal printers use a print head to generate heat that causes achemical reaction in specially designed paper that turns the paperblack. Thermal transfer printers also use heat, but instead of reactingthe paper, the heat melts a waxy or resin substance on a ribbon thatruns over the label or tag material. The heat transfers ink from theribbon to the paper.

Barcode printers are designed for different markets. Industrial barcodeprinters are used in large warehouses, manufacturing facilities, andfood facilities. They have large paper capacities, operate faster andhave a longer service life. For retail and office environments, desktopbarcode printers are most common.

Furthermore, in traditional food preparation and service areas, or othersuitable areas, food freshness barcode printers are installed. In theseareas, the non-technical user is required to complete tasks such asreceiving, breaking down inner packs, putting away ingredients, andmaintaining information required for Food Safety. Thus, as therequirements for information supporting supply chain visibilityinitiatives and Food Service traceability requirements increase, it isdesirable to expand the role of a food freshness barcode printer instore to support these goals.

Thus, there exists a need for a food freshness barcode printer or smartprinter utilized for printing freshness labels to enhance the operationsof a handheld printer/scanner device, such as by enabling the hostprinter to receive the barcode scan of a case label and retain theinformation for future label printing use. The present inventiondiscloses a method of pairing the handheld printer/scanner device with abarcode printer acting as a host that will enhance the functionality ofthe host printer.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basicunderstanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summaryis not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identifykey/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its solepurpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof,comprises a method of pairing a handheld printer/scanner device with abarcode printer acting as the host. The pairing will further enhance thefunctionality of the host barcode printer. Specifically, the pairingprocess is initiated when a printer process that requires a handheldprinter/scanner device is initiated. For exemplary purposes thisdescription will use the specific application of receiving food in arestaurant, although the method can be utilized with other applicationsas is known in the art.

In a preferred embodiment, the method enables a handheld printer/scannerdevice to print to a host barcode printer, such as food freshness labelsand other similar labels. The method also enables the host barcodeprinter to receive a barcode scan of the case label of received fooditems or other items and retain information from the barcode scan forfuture printing of food freshness labels and other labels as is known inthe art.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certainillustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein inconnection with the following description and the annexed drawings.These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various waysin which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intendedto include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages andnovel features will become apparent from the following detaileddescription when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a barcode printer inaccordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of a handheld printer/scannerdevice in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of the barcode printer and handheldprinter/scanner device in proximity to each other in accordance with thedisclosed architecture.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of the barcode printer in accordance withthe disclosed architecture.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of the handheld printer/scanner device inaccordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front plan view of a case label in accordance withthe disclosed architecture.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of the process for pairing the barcodeprinter and the handheld printer/scanner in accordance with thedisclosed architecture.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of the receiving process in accordancewith the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, whereinlike reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout.In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovationcan be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form inorder to facilitate a description thereof.

A method of pairing a handheld printer/scanner device with a barcodeprinter acting as the host. The pairing will further enhance thefunctionality of the host barcode printer. Specifically, the methodenables a handheld printer/scanner device to print to a host barcodeprinter, and also enables the host barcode printer to receive a barcodescan of the case label and retain information from the barcode scan forfuture printing of labels.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a barcodeprinter 10 in accordance with the present invention, however anysuitable barcode printer can be used as is known in the art. The barcodeprinter 10 comprises a thermal print head (shown in FIGS. 4, 428 and430) for printing barcodes and alphanumeric information on a web ofrecord members such as tags, labels or the like. The supply of the webof record members may be of the direct printing type such that therecord members include paper coated with a thermally responsivematerial. Alternatively, the supply used with the barcode printer 10 maybe of the transfer type wherein a carbon ribbon is heat activated by theprint head so as to print on the record members. The print head isstrobed to control the amount of energy applied thereto for printing.More particularly, current is applied to the print head during a strobetime in order to print one line on a record member.

The barcode printer 10 also includes a stepper motor (shown in FIG. 4,424 and 426) or the like that is responsive to a periodic drive signal,the period of which is defined by the time between the leading edges ofconsecutive or adjacent pulses of the drive signal. The stepper motor isresponsive to the drive signal to advance the web of record members pastthe print head for printing. The drive signal controls the speed of thestepper motor which in turn controls the print speed of the barcodeprinter 10.

A controller (shown in FIG. 4, 432) includes a microprocessor 420 or thelike which operates in accordance with software routines stored in amemory so as to control the operations of the barcode printer 10. Anumber of sensors, monitors, detectors or the like such as depicted at412, 414, 416 and 418 (see FIG. 4), monitor operating conditions of thebarcode printer 10 including the resistance of the print head, thecontrast setting of the barcode printer, the temperature of a heat sinkon which the print head is mounted and the voltage of a battery poweringthe barcode printer 10. The measured values of the print headresistance, contrast setting, heat sink temperature, battery voltage, aswell as other operating variables if desired, are utilized by themicroprocessor when implementing print speed control.

Furthermore, the barcode printer 10 would typically be located in thefoodservice work area, but could be situated in any suitable area as isknown in the art. The barcode printer 10 is a Bluetooth® compliantdevice 20 which further comprises at least one 802.11 a/b/e/g antenna at21 and at least one USB device port 22, however any suitable number ofantenna and USB device ports can be utilized as is known in the art,depending on the wants and needs of a user. The barcode printer 10 alsocomprises at least two station embedded printers 30 and 40, however anysuitable number of station embedded printers can be utilized as is knownin the art, depending on the wants and needs of a user. These stationembedded printers 30 and 40 can run different supply sizes. Finally, thebarcode printer 10 comprises a user display 50 or monitor.

Generally referring to FIG. 2, the disclosed food freshness barcodeprinter, or any other suitable barcode printer or smart printer would bepaired with a handheld printer/scanner device 210. The handheldprinter/scanner device 210 is Bluetooth® enabled shown at 230 andcomprises a power switch 220, as well as any other necessary mechanicsand functionality as is known in the art.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical layout of a food preparation area for afood service facility where both printers 10 and 210 would be located.As shown in FIG. 3, the receiving door 310 is where both cold and drystorage items are processed. Within the dry storage area, are shelvingunits 320 for dry storage and a work station 330. At 340, another workstation is shown where the food freshness host printer 10 would belocated. Cold storage is shown at 360 and swinging doors 370 lead to thecustomer service area. Further, the handheld portable printer/scannerdevice 210 is shown at 350. The handheld portable printer/scanner device210 is paired with the food freshness host printer 10, which allows thehandheld portable printer/scanner device 210 to print from the foodfreshness host printer 10, wherever the food freshness host printer 10is located within the food service facility.

FIG. 4 illustrates the barcode printer 410 (also shown in FIG. 1 as 10)which comprises a thermal print head 412 for printing barcodes andalphanumeric information. The print head resistance 412 is strobed orheated to control the amount of energy applied thereto for printing.This energy will be varied based upon the heat of the print asdetermined by the heat sink depicted at 416. The contrast setting, 414,will also impact the length of the strobe. The barcode printer 410 alsoincludes two stepper motors 424 and 426. The stepper motor 424controlled by MPU 420 advances the web of record members past the printhead 428 for printing. In addition, stepper motor 426 controlled by MPU420 advances the web of record members past the print head 430 forprinting.

The barcode printer 410 also includes a controller 432 which includes amicroprocessor 420 or the like which operates in accordance withsoftware routines stored in a memory 422 so as to control the operationsof the barcode printer 410. The software of the present invention istypically customizable per a user's request which allows the software tobe easily tailored around a user's requirement.

A number of sensors, monitors, detectors or the like such as depicted at412, 414, 416, and 418, monitor operating conditions of the barcodeprinter 410 including the resistance of the print heads 428 and 430, thecontrast setting of the barcode printer, the temperature of the heatsink at 428 and 430 and the voltage of a battery powering the barcodeprinter 410. The measured values of the print head resistance, contrastsetting, heat sink temperature, battery voltage, as well as otheroperating variables if desired, are utilized by the microprocessor 420when implementing print speed control.

Furthermore, the barcode printer 410 is a Bluetooth® compliant device436 which further comprises at least one 802.11 a/b/e/g antenna and atleast one USB device port. The barcode printer 410 also comprises a userdisplay 434 or monitor.

FIG. 5 illustrates the control board of barcode printer 510 (also shownin FIG. 2 as 210). This control board has minor variances to the controlboard for printer 410, for example printer 510 contains one printerstation instead of two. The printer 510 also comprises a thermal printerhead 526 for printing barcodes and alphanumeric information. The printerhead 526 is strobed or heated to control the amount of energy appliedthereto for printing. This energy will be varied based upon the heat ofthe print as determined by the heat sink depicted in 526. The contrastsetting, 514, will also impact the length of the strobe.

The barcode printer 510 also includes a stepper motor 524. The steppermotor 524 controlled by MPU 520 advances the web of record members pastthe print head 526 for printing. A controller 534 includes amicroprocessor 520 or the like which operates in accordance withsoftware routines stored in a memory 522 so as to control the operationsof the barcode printer 510. The software of the present invention istypically customizable per a customer's request which allows thesoftware to be easily tailored around a customer's requirements.

A number of sensors, monitors, detectors or the like such as depicted at512, 514, 516, and 518, monitor operating conditions of the barcodeprinter 510 including the resistance of the print head 526, the contrastsetting of the barcode printer, the temperature of the heat sink in 526and the voltage of a battery powering the barcode printer 510. Themeasured values of the printer head resistance, contrast setting, heatsink temperature, battery voltage, as well as other operating variablesif desired, are utilized by the microprocessor 520 when implementingprint speed control.

Furthermore, the barcode printer 510 is a Bluetooth® compliant device530 which further comprises at least one 802.11 a/b/e/g antenna and atleast one USB device port. The barcode printer 510 also comprises a userdisplay 532 or monitor, and a scanner 528.

An example case label for use with the printers 10 (also 410) and 210(also 510) is shown in FIG. 6. Handheld printer/scanner device 210 scansthe barcode shown at 610 on the label. This barcode is encoded with aunique identification identifying the manufacturer, the item number, thelot number, and the best by date. The lot number is also indicated inthe human readable number shown at 620 and the best by date is indicatedin the human readable number shown at 630. Handheld printer/scannerdevice 210 sends this information back to the barcode host printer 10which is running a specific application. The application extracts thelot number and best by date from barcode 610. This lot number and bestby date can then be printed on food freshness labels when food items areremoved from either cold storage or dry storage.

However, before the Bluetooth® printer can print from the food freshnessprinter the device must be paired with the printer. FIG. 7 outlines theprocess required for pairing the devices. At 701, the process isentered. At 705, the printer 10 is powered on and the applicationselection screen is presented on display 50, the application thatutilizes device pairing must then be selected and started. In this case,this application is the receiving process for food service application.At 710, the handheld printer/scanner device 210 is powered on. The userthen verifies that the Bluetooth® is turned on at 720. If the Bluetooth®is not enabled, the Bluetooth® is enabled and the handheldprinter/scanner device 210 is powered down at 715 and the processreturns to 710.

If Bluetooth® is enabled, then at 725 a user taps the commandCONNECTIONS on printer 10 and searches for the desired handheldprinter/scanner device 210. At 730, it is determined if the printer MACaddress is found. If no, then at 735 the user taps the “Scan forDevices” tab and the process returns to 730. If yes, then at 740 thedesired handheld printer/scanner device 210 (servant printer) isselected to be paired and the PIN code is entered. If the PIN code isvalid, then at 745 the desired handheld printer/scanner device 210 issuccessfully paired and ready to print in step 750 and the process isexited at 755. If the PIN code is not valid, then at 745 the processreturns to 740 for the user to re-enter a correct PIN code.

Once the pairing is complete between barcode host printer 10 andhandheld printer/scanner device 210, the receiving application shown inthe flow chart in FIG. 8 is enabled to complete the receivingoperations. When cases are received through the receiving door, thebarcode scanner on the handheld printer/scanner device 210 is used toscan the case label as indicated in FIG. 8. As stated supra, an examplecase label is shown in FIG. 6. Handheld printer/scanner device 210 sendsthis information back to barcode host printer 10 which is running aspecific application. The application extracts the lot code and best bydate from barcode 610. This lot code and best by date can be printed onfood freshness labels when food items are removed from either coldstorage or dry storage.

As shown in FIG. 8, the receiving process can be completed after theprinter 10 and 210 are paired. Entering the process at 800, a user scansthe case label at 810 with the handheld printer/scanner device 210. At820, the scanned data is sent to the barcode host printer 10 where itcan be processed by an application program to obtain the Vendor, ItemNumber, Lot or Serial Number, and Best By date. This data can be used bybarcode host printer 10 when printing labels for the transformation stepof food prep to identify food items' lot numbers or serial numbers anduse by dates.

At 825 the case is opened. The application on host barcode printer 10will prompt for inner packs at 830. If yes, the process proceeds to 835to print and apply a received label with the key data elements and abarcode that can be scanned when the item is removed from food storagefor food prep. This label has an incrementing count for each inner pack.At 840, the user determines if more inner pack labels are needed and theprocess continues until the carton is empty. If at 830 there were noinner packs for the carton, then the process continues to 850 where thehandheld printer/scanner device 210 prints a received label for thecarton containing the key data elements needed for the critical trackingevent. Then, both the no branches of 840 and 850 proceed toward puttingthe item away.

At 845, the need for cold storage is determined by the user oralternately the application program on host barcode printer 10 couldcontain the proper storage method of the received item. If cold storageis not needed, the process continues to 855 where the inner pack or caseis received and then transferred to dry storage at 860. The process thencontinues to prompt for receiving another case at 885. If yes, then theprocess returns to 810 and starts over, and if there are no more casesthe process exits at 890.

If at 845 it is determined that the user is receiving a cold storageitem, the process continues to 865. Then at 870, it is determined if thecold storage item should be stored frozen or under refrigeration. If thecold storage item should be stored frozen, the process continues to 880and the item is placed in the freezer. If the cold storage item shouldbe stored under refrigeration, the process continues to 875 and the itemis placed in the refrigerator. Then, the process continues to 885 todetermine if more cases are to be received. If yes, the processcontinues to 810 and starts over, and if no the process continues to 890and exits.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subjectmatter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components or methodologies for purposes of describingthe claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art mayrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimedsubject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter isintended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variationsthat fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in eitherthe detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising”is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

1. A process for pairing a host barcode printer with a handheldprinter/scanner device, comprising the steps of: powering on the hostbarcode printer; starting an application that utilizes device pairing onthe host barcode printer; powering on the handheld printer/scannerdevice; enabling Bluetooth connectivity on both the host barcode printerand the handheld printer/scanner device; enabling connections on thehost barcode printer to search for the handheld printer/scanner device;checking to see if an address of the handheld printer/scanner device isfound; if the address has been found, then selecting the handheldprinter/scanner device to be paired; entering a PIN code; and if the PINcode is valid, then the handheld printer/scanner device is successfullypaired and ready to print and the process is exited.
 2. The process ofclaim 1, wherein the application that utilizes device pairing is areceiving process application for food service.
 3. The process of claim1, further comprising: if the Bluetooth is not enabled, then enablingthe Bluetooth and powering down the handheld printer/scanner devicewhich starts the process over.
 4. The process of claim 1, furthercomprising: if the PIN code is not valid, then prompting the user tore-enter the PIN code.
 5. The process of claim 1, further comprising:once the pairing is complete between the host barcode printer and thehandheld printer/scanner device, enabling the receiving application tocomplete receiving operations.
 6. The process of claim 1, wherein whencases are received through a receiving door, the handheldprinter/scanner device is used to scan the case label.
 7. The process ofclaim 6, wherein the handheld printer/scanner device sends informationfrom the case label back to the host barcode printer which is running anapplication.
 8. The process of claim 7, wherein the application extractsthe lot code and best by date from the barcode.
 9. The process of claim8, wherein the lot code and best by date are printed on food freshnesslabels when food items are removed from either cold storage or drystorage.
 10. A receiving process completed after a host barcode printeris paired with a handheld printer/scanner device, comprising the stepsof: scanning a case label with the handheld printer/scanner device;sending scanned data to the host barcode printer where it is processedby an application program to obtain the Vendor, Item Number, Lot orSerial Number, and Best By date; and using this data by the host barcodeprinter when printing labels to identify food items' lot numbers orserial numbers and use by dates.
 11. The receiving process of claim 10,further comprising: opening a case; prompting the host barcode printerfor inner pack labels; if yes, then proceeding to print and apply labelswith key data elements and a barcode that can be scanned when the itemis removed from food storage for food prep; determining if more innerpack labels are needed; and continuing the process until the carton isempty.
 12. The receiving process of claim 11, further comprising: ifthere are no inner packs for the carton, then printing a received labelfor the carton containing the key data elements needed for the criticaltracking event.
 13. The receiving process of claim 10, furthercomprising: determining need for cold storage to determine the properstorage method of the received item.
 14. The receiving process of claim13, wherein determining is done by a user or by the application programon the host barcode printer.
 15. The receiving process of claim 14,wherein if the received item does not belong in cold storage, placingthe inner pack or case in dry storage.
 16. The receiving process ofclaim 15, further comprising: prompting a user to receive another case.17. The receiving process of claim 16, wherein if there's another case,then the process returns to the beginning and starts over.
 18. Thereceiving process of claim 16, wherein if there's not another case, thenthe process exits.
 19. The receiving process of claim 14, wherein ifreceiving a cold storage item, determining if the received items arestored under refrigeration or frozen.
 20. The receiving process of claim19, wherein the process continues determining if more cases are to bereceived.